TBM Staff - Mumbai
Thailand’s cabinet has given the green light to a plan aimed at welcoming Russian tourists into the country without requiring a visa, allowing them to stay for a maximum of two months. This move is part of Thailand’s strategy to leverage tourism as a means of bolstering economic recovery.
According to deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri, Russian passport-holders arriving in Thailand between May and July will be eligible to stay for up to 60 days per trip under the new regulation. This adjustment comes into effect following the expiration of the current arrangement, which permits Russians to stay for up to 90 days, at the end of this month. Rudklao made these announcements during a briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Tourism plays a crucial role in Thailand’s economy, constituting approximately 20% of total employment and contributing around 12% to the nation’s USD 500 billion economy. The Thai government, under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s leadership, has set an ambitious target of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027.
Given the significance of the Russian tourist market, with arrivals already exceeding 700,000 this year and projected to surpass 1.48 million by 2023, the cabinet’s decision aims to further stimulate tourism income and economic growth during this period of recovery.
